April 13, 2016 — NEWPORT, RI — Today marks the first day that the 209-foot research vessel Henry B. Bigelow is officially homeported here in Newport, marking a “victory for the Ocean State,” according to U.S. Sen. Jack Reed.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association fisheries research vessel has a primary objective of studying and monitoring Northeast Marine Fisheries throughout New England and has nets that trawl as deep as 6,000 feet.
The Bigelow collects data used for stock assessments that ultimately influences catch limits and fishing quotas as well as help scientists understand changes to the fishery.
Reed said that he has been lobbying for years for the ship to be homeported here in Rhode Island to save taxpayers money.
NOAA officials said that change is based on a study that included another vessel, the Okeanos Explorer, a deep sea exploration ship homeported at Quonset Point at the Port of Davisville in North Kingstown.